Taliesin. All of them, with a number of other ‘Taliesin’ poems not to be found in this manuscript, had previously been printed in the ‘Myvyrian Archaiology.’ Though accepted as sixth-century productions in mediæval times and by modern uncritical writers, these poems are clearly from different hands and of different periods, and they have been the subject of much controversy. Edward Llwyd attributed about twenty to Taliesin himself (Archæologia Britannica, pp. 263–4), Stephens regarded twelve (including six to Urien Rheged) as beyond doubt of the sixth century (Literature of the Kymry, 2nd ed. p. 271), while Nash held that not one had in its present form been shown to be as old as the era of the poet (Taliesin, pp. 120–1). It was part of the purpose of Skene, in his edition of the ‘Four Ancient Books,’ to combat the destructive criticism of Stephens and Nash, and show that these and similar poems were in substance as old as the seventh century, and supplied important evidence for the struggle in the north between Angles, Picts, Scots, and Britons (pp. 11–15, 242–3). This has not yet been established, and for the present the view of Nash holds the field.
[Authorities cited.]
TALLENTS, FRANCIS (1619–1708), ejected divine, eldest son of Philip Tallents, whose father, a Frenchman, accompanied Sir Francis Leake to England after saving his life, was born at Pilsley in the parish of North Wingfield, Derbyshire, in November 1619. His father dying when he was fourteen, Tallents was sent by an uncle, Francis Tallents, to the free schools at Mansfield and Newark, where he was said to have not silver but golden ‘talents’ (cf. Cox, Churches of Derbyshire, i. 385, iv. 481). Tallents entered Peterhouse, Cambridge, in 1635, but removed to Magdalene College to become sub-tutor to the sons of Theophilus, earl of Suffolk. In 1642 he travelled abroad with his pupils, and resided for a time at Saumur. On his return he was chosen fellow and tutor of Magdalene. He received presbyterian ordination at St. Mary's Woolnoth, London, on 29 Nov. 1648. In October 1649 he was chosen one of the twelve graduates who had power to preach without episcopal license.
In 1652 Tallents was invited by the mayor and aldermen, and urged by Baxter, to become lecturer and curate at St. Mary's, Shrewsbury. His nomination was dated 4 Jan. 1653, and the committee of plundered ministers added 50l. to his income. At the Restoration the commissioners appointed to restore deposed ministers were petitioned to allow him to remain, his predecessor, one Prowde, concurring. On 10 Oct. 1661 he received confirmation of his office, but the next year was several times imprisoned in Shrewsbury Castle for preaching, and, on his refusal to receive further ordination, he was ejected in September 1662. After that he regularly attended worship at St. Mary's, only preaching himself at different hours, and thus he escaped molestation. From February 1671 to about 1674 he resided with his pupil, John Hampden the younger [q. v.], near Paris. On his return he joined with John (d. 1699), eldest son of John Bryan, D.D. [q. v.], in ministering to the presbyterian congregation at Oliver Chapel, High Street, Shrewsbury. An indictment was framed against him for holding a conventicle in December 1680, but he was able to prove an alibi, having spent the whole of the winter in France. He was under suspicion after Monmouth's rebellion in 1685, and was lodged in Chester Castle, but was soon released, and on James II's progress to Shrewsbury in September 1686 he joined in the presentation to him of a purse of gold in recognition of the Indulgence (see Hist. MSS. Comm. 10th Rep. App. iv. 376). He died at Shrewsbury on 11 April 1708, aged nearly eighty-nine, and was buried on the 15th in St. Mary's Church. He composed his own epitaph.
Tallents was four times married: first to Anne (d. 1658), daughter of Gervase Lomax; secondly, to Martha (d. 1663), daughter of Thomas Clive of Walford, near Baschurch; thirdly, in 1673, to Mrs. Mary Greenhill, a widow, of Harrow-on-the-Hill (Chester, London Marriage Licences, p. 1313). His fourth wife was buried at St. Mary's on 11 March 1702. By his first wife only had he issue—a son Francis, born on 7 Sept. 1656, admitted to Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1672, graduated thence B.A. 1675, M.A. 1679. He became chaplain to Sir D. Gauden, the sheriff of London, was acquainted with Pepys, and died in early life (Graduati Cantabrigienses, p. 459; Pepys, Diary, iv. 331).
Besides a sermon preached at the funeral of Philip Henry [q. v.], republished in ‘Eighteen Sermons,’ London, 1816, 8vo, Tallents published: 1. ‘A View of Universal History,’ London, 1685, fol., a series of chronological tables which he had engraved on sixteen copper-plates in his own house. 2. ‘A Sure and Large Foundation,’ 1689?; a copy of this was given by him to the school library at Shrewsbury, in 1696, but the work is not otherwise known; and 3. ‘A
